Covid-19 hospitalizations are increasing, as expected. Doctors, Nurses and health care experts are using television, radio and social media to sound alarms about supply shortages and other serious problems.
ER Doctor Stephen Anderson in Auburn, Washington, said on ABC’s “World News Tonight”, “We need ventilators. I have ventilators this morning, but the hospital up the street from me is out of ventilators at the moment.”
Now, Doctors, Nurses and others are rallying on social media with the hashtag #GetMePPE, referring to personal protective equipment like masks, gowns and face shields, to put pressure on elected leaders to get them more gear to guard against infection. Some suggested that members of the public reach out to a nearby hospital if they had masks or other medical equipment to donate.
Dr. Megan Ranney went on CNN and told John King, “We need masks TODAY. We are pleading on social media, #GetMePPE, to keep me and my patients safe. We need those masks and gowns NOW.”
Meghan Spyres, an emergency medicine Physician at LA County USC told Refinery29 her hospital does not have enough personal protective equipment such as masks, face shields, and medical gowns.
More than ever, frontline Doctors and Nurses need support from local and state governments as they risk their lives to save the lives of others. Many of them have taken their demands to Twitter, posting pictures of themselves with protective equipment and adding the hashtag “#GetMePPE” while also tagging their representatives.